New Delhi: Eight out of 29 trainees of Nehru Mountaineering Institute who are trapped after being hit by an avalanche in Draupadi's Danda-2 mountain peak, Uttarakhand have been rescued. The peak is located in the Gangotri range of the Garhwal Himalayas in Uttarakhand. Out of the 29 NIM trainees trapped in an avalanche, 8 trainees have been rescued safely, Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar told ANI.









Rapid, relief & rescue operations underway. Earlier, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami took to Twitter to inform about the incident. “Info about 28 trainees of Nehru Mountaineering Institute being trapped following an avalanche in Draupadi's Danda-2 mountain peak has been received. Rapid, relief & rescue operations underway by the dist administration, NDRF, SDRF, Army & ITBP personnel”, Dhami tweeted.






Two Cheetah helicopters have been deployed by the Indian Air Force for rescue and relief operations in Uttarkashi area where a mountaineering team has been hit by an avalanche, news agency ANI reported citing IAF officials.






“2 Cheetah helicopters deployed by IAF for rescue & relief ops in Uttarkashi area where a mountaineering team of Nehru Institute of Mountaineering has been hit by an avalanche. All other fleets of choppers have been put on standby for any other requirement”, ANI quoted IAF officials as saying.


Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed grief over the incident and conveyed his “condolences to the bereaved families”


“Deeply anguished by the loss of precious lives due to landslide which has struck the mountaineering expedition carried out by the Nehru Mountaineering Institute in Uttarkashi. My condolences to the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones. Okay”, Rajnath Singh  tweeted.






Rajnath Singh who is on a two day visit to Uttarakhand from today to celebrate Vijaya Dashmi with the Armed Forces personnel in Chamoli also said that rescue operations are underway to help the mountaineers who are still trapped. 


“Spoke to CM Uttarakhand, Shri @PushkarDhami and took stock of the situation. Rescue operations are underway to help the mountaineers who are still trapped. I have instructed the IAF to mount the rescue and relief ops. Praying for everyone’s safety and well-being”, he tweeted.


(With ANI Inputs)